The excitement continued on the second day of Crankworx Innsbruck with the Speed & Style competition, bringing high energy and spectacular performances to the festival. Under the warm sun, the riders pushed their limits, with Austrian Bernd Winkler taking the win and leaving the local fans in awe.
At the end of the day, the top three contenders in the Queen of Crankworx standings dominated the women’s podium. Jordy Scott continued her winning streak from Crankworx Cairns, where she collected a gold medal in all three events she competed in. After taking a one-year hiatus from Crankworx Innsbruck, Scott returned to clinch gold, adding another impressive victory to her record. Martha Gill secured the silver medal in a closely contested final against Scott. Gill’s performance was strong and consistent, highlighting her status as one of the top competitors in the series. New Zealand’s Shania Rawson took home the bronze medal, solidifying her position as a formidable competitor in the Queen of Crankworx standings. Rawson outperformed wildcard contestant and Crankworx newbie Martina Lippolis from Italy in the battle for third place.
Austrian rider Bernd Winkler captured his first Crankworx gold medal in front of an ecstatic home crowd. Although he finished both gold medal match-up runs slower than his opponent Ryan Gilchrist, Winkler’s impressive style earned him the top spot. His flawless execution of tricks, such as the ‘Triple Truck Driver’ and ‘Backflip Bar to Bar,’ showcased his deep roots in freeride mountain biking and secured him valuable points to secure the victory. Winkler’s victory is a significant highlight for the Austrian biking community, marking another proud moment in Crankworx Innsbruck history. The local fans were thrilled to see their fellow countryman standing atop the podium, celebrating with a gold medal in his hand and the national anthem playing in the back.
The pressure was pretty high after qualifying with the number one, but so much can happen between all these runs and it’s so hard to stay focused until the end. And yeah, I’m hyped about it!
Bernd Winkler
Current leader in the King of Crankworx standings, Ryan Gilchrist, known for his blazing speed, took the silver medal. He has been having an exceptional season, with four top spot rankings. Despite Speed & Style not being his primary discipline, Gilchrist was pleased with his second-place finish.
I give it everything I’ve got every single time I’m putting it on the gate and going against world class competitors. To be perfectly honest, I got a little bit lucky in this race and it’s no secret this isn’t my discipline. I’m happy to make it all the way through and we get to see another podium.
Ryan Gilchrist
Fellow Australian, Jackson Frew, claimed bronze, gaining crucial points towards the King of Crankworx standings and getting closer to current second-ranked Tuhoto-Ariki Pene.
Crankworx Innsbruck Speed & Style
- Jordy SCOTT (USA) // Bernd WINKLER (AUT)
- Martha GILL (GBR) // Ryan GILCHRIST (AUS)
- Shania RAWSON (NZL) // Jackson FREW (AUS)
Crankworx Innsbruck continues with two more action-packed days. Due to expected rain showers and wind for Saturday, the schedule for the weekend has been updated. On Saturday, the Specialized Dual Slalom takes place at 11 am CEST before we move into Sunday. Dubbed “Super-Sunday,” the final day of Crankworx Innsbruck will feature the Thule Slopestyle at 10 am and the Crankworx Innsbruck Pump Track Challenge presented by Raiffeisen Club Tirol at 4 pm, closing the final edition of Crankworx Innsbruck with a bang.
About Crankworx World Tour
Crankworx is the ultimate experience in mountain biking. Born in Whistler, B.C. in 2004, Crankworx has evolved into a multi-stop international festival series. The Crankworx World Tour brings together the best mountain bike athletes to compete in elite-level competitions in a variety of disciplines. Crankworx World Tour festivals also host races for amateurs, Kidsworx contests for young riders, participatory events, and celebrations of mountain bike culture, all while showcasing amazing destinations.
Official website: crankworx.com
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